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Casino Workers Launch Ads, Website for First Contract |
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Casino workers in Atlantic City, N.J., are stepping up their battle for a first and fair contract. The workers, members of the UAW/Atlantic City Dealers Union, today began running radio and newspaper ads in Atlantic City letting the public know about their struggle. The ads coincide with the launch of a new website, http://fairdealforacdealers.org, which chronicles the workers’ campaign and solicits stories from casino workers.
Two years ago, casino dealers at Caesars in Atlantic City voted for representation by the UAW. Full- and part-time dealers and slot techs at Tropicana, Trump Plaza and Bally’s also have voted to form their own unions, but casino operators have either refused to bargain or stalled the negotiating process.
At the website, the union members make it clear they are ready to bargain, saying:
We are ready to work with the casinos to improve our jobs so we can keep providing the best possible service to our customers. But the companies are refusing to meet us halfway—either refusing to meet, or engaging in stalling tactics.
The ads point out that everyone loses when workers are treated unfairly. They point out that the CEO of Bally’s and Caesars “is playing the corporate greed game” by cutting dealers’ hours, cutting retirement benefits, stripping seniority and refusing to bargain.
Yet the CEO of Bally’s and Caesars paid himself $39 million last year with plenty of perks. When Bally’s and Caesars play games with casino dealers—it’s no fun for anybody. And everybody loses.
Under the Employee Free Choice Act, the workers would have a contract by now. The proposed legislation would allow either side to request federal mediation if they cannot agree on a deal after 90 days. After 30 days of mediation, if there is still no agreement, the dispute would be referred to binding arbitration.
Last week, casino workers from Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Detroit and Connecticut joined together to carry out a broad organizing, bargaining and communications agenda. The new Gaming Workers Council, which includes the UAW, Transport Workers (TWU) Gaming Division, the AFL-CIO and SEIU, also will reach out to other partners to support a common agenda on behalf of workers in the casino industry.
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